He also stole bicycles and a car in separate incidents, a court heard
Ben Thompson was part of a gang that raided Sports Direct, in Flemingate, Beverley(Image: Hull Live/Humberside Police)
A drug-taking motorcyclist was part of a ramraid gang that brazenly broke into a sportswear shop late at night and escaped with a lucrative haul valued at £8,500. One of the raiders later ran out of luck and he was recognised from telltale CCTV pictures and arrested, Hull Crown Court heard.
Ben Thompson, 35, of Endeavour Crescent, east Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted burglary and driving while disqualified on June 9. He also admitted attempted theft on July 15 and handling stolen goods on July 3.
Tom Doyle, prosecuting, said that Thompson was riding a motorcycle when he and others targeted the Sports Direct store in Flemingate, Beverley, and smashed their way in through the door. A haul, including clothes with the Calvin Klein and Boss brands, valued at £8,500, was stolen.
The shop was later boarded up and CCTV pictures were viewed. Thompson was on one of the motorcycles seen and he was identified. A motorcycle was found by police in the early hours after a report by a member of the public. It had no registration plate on it.
He was a banned driver at the time after disqualifications in December 2018 and March 2020. He had been ordered to pass an extended retest before he could drive legally again.
In another offence, Thompson and another man took bicycles from a bike shed but were caught by the police before they could escape. He had tried to steal an electric bicycle, valued at £899.
In the third incident, a Toyota Auris was reported stolen, with the suspect opening the car door, flashing a torch and driving off. Later that day, it was seen being driven in Grasby Road, east Hull.
Attempts were made by the culprits to accelerate away and two males were seen. Police turned round and chased after the vehicle but it went out of sight.
Two males were seen running across an underpass in the Belprin Road area and Thompson was detained. He was wearing black gloves and he had a torch and the keys to the car. The Toyota was recovered.
Thompson tested positive for cocaine. He had convictions for 36 previous offences, including nine theft-related.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that Thompson pleaded guilty to the offences. There was some planning involved in the burglary. “There isn’t much that can be said about the offending,” said Mr Shipley.
“His life, of late, has spiralled and spiralled down to the point where he was regularly committing offences. In the last few years, his offending has just been on the rise.
“He started taking cannabis from a very young age.” Thompson had, in the past, been a skilled worker, including being a window fitter as well as making and fitting bathroom pods and being a car salesman.
“He has made the egregious error of turning to Class A drugs, as many do,” said Mr Shipley. “He fell into the awful trap of needing money. The money gets burned on drugs.
“He never left school with any qualifications and was mixing with the wrong groups, clearly other drug users. One thing led to another.
“He can’t excuse his behaviour. He doesn’t seek to do so.” He was now clean of drugs after nearly six months in custody on remand.
Thompson was jailed for one year and he was banned from driving for two years.
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